Seeing her expression, Garlo couldn’t stay calm. After pondering for a while, he asked somewhat perplexedly, “Sha Yi, why are you glaring at me like that…?”
She remained silent, but Saina shook his head and sighed, “Your way of doing things is just too strange. You could have taken a lethal shot, but instead, you targeted someone worthless, leaving the mastermind untouched to keep causing trouble.”
Saina’s words were loud and clear, showing no regard for Yeli. The people opposite turned pale with anger, yet he didn’t even blink. In fact, it seemed he had no intention of acknowledging them at all.
Garlo’s face darkened, and he retorted irritably, “What do you know? I’ve studied bows and arrows seriously. Sha Yi’s people have long said their lethal success rate is low—they’re just auxiliary weapons for hunting!”
“True, they’re auxiliary for hunting because most animals have thick hides and won’t stand still for you to shoot!” Saina disagreed. “But humans are different. They don’t have such thick hides. And in that situation earlier, you had the upper hand. A lethal shot was entirely possible—assuming you have good aim, which you do. Yet you didn’t take it!”
“Don’t you think it’s a bit late to say that now?” Whether he couldn’t find a rebuttal or genuinely agreed with Saina, Garlo ended up outright displeased. “Why didn’t you say so earlier? What kind of scheming is this?”
“You didn’t tell me you were going to strike first,” Saina said innocently. “How was I supposed to know what you were planning?”
The two of them went back and forth, completely ignoring Yeli and his group. Though it seemed wildly inappropriate, Yeli could do nothing about it.
That said, Saina’s reasoning was sound. His analysis was as meticulous as his mind. She hadn’t considered it before, but it made sense.
In truth, it wasn’t that bows lacked lethality. On the contrary, those from the cold weapon era were incredibly powerful, especially those with bronze arrowheads—far harder than their blackwood arrows, not to mention the superior balance of the shafts.
The issue lay in their own bows’ inherent flaws. The primitive conditions of their era couldn’t compare to the cold weapon age, and their makeshift materials and lack of systematic development were to blame.
So, Garlo’s thinking wasn’t entirely wrong.
For things he didn’t understand or couldn’t use, he was willing to ask—even if he lacked Saina’s expansiveness, he at least followed the rules.
Dealing with Manlun was a good thing, all things considered.
As she mused, a flurry of footsteps approached from afar. Reflexively, Sha Yi turned to look and saw Xi Yi, who had set out at night to pursue Yeli, returning with his group of several dozen from the opposite side.
After a night apart, Xi Yi still looked well, unlike Yeli’s exhausted group. His people were mostly unharmed too. She’d been worried, given Yeli’s dire state, fearing Xi Yi might face similar strife. But her fears proved unfounded.
Still, even unscathed, she couldn’t stop herself from instinctively rushing toward him.
Xi Yi approached from Yeli’s flank, so he spotted her immediately. Tense, he bent slightly and spread his arms, ready to catch her before she even reached him.
Seeing his stance, Sha Yi suddenly remembered her pregnancy. Panic flashed through her, but it was too late. She tried to stop, tripped over her own feet, and nearly fell—only for Xi Yi to step forward, grab her arm, and pull her securely into his embrace.
Steady.
He didn’t even brush her abdomen in the process.
Sha Yi felt a pang of regret.
This was probably due to what Kasan had told her and Tata’s past incident. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have lost control like this.
She’d been too worried.
Just as Xi Yi had once feared losing her, she’d thought staying and living peacefully would prevent further mishaps. But reality had slapped her hard.
Even if the odds were uncertain, she couldn’t shake her anxiety.
Xi Yi, unaware of all this, was in high spirits. Though his face still bore traces of worry, he couldn’t hide his joy at her impulsive dash toward him.
Perhaps his lonely childhood made him cherish every sign of her care.
She, too, felt a tender ache for his instinctive warmth. But this wasn’t the time for affection. From the corner of her eye, she saw Saina silent, Garlo glaring, and Yeli growing darker.
Right now, Saina and Garlo were harmless—Yeli was not.
Knowing Yeli’s nature, Sha Yi feared he might act out. Reluctantly, she pushed away from Xi Yi’s warm embrace.
Xi Yi was reluctant too but yielded for the bigger picture.
Perhaps sensing his disadvantage, Yeli wasted no time. “Enough talk. You’ve gotten what you wanted. There was a traitor among us, and I’ve been outplayed—I admit it. But if you want to keep this old man alive, you’ll meet my demands!”
“Traitor? You dare say that?” Garlo cut in sharply, mocking Yeli’s victim act. “Fine. Hand over those two women and three men behind you, and I won’t blame you. After all, the biggest traitor’s already dealt with!”
“You go too far. If you want an exchange, fine.” Yeli’s face darkened. “Bring Kasan, Kapa, and the rest of my people here, and we’ll swap immediately.”
“Kasan and Kapa did come to us, but…” Garlo smirked, his shamelessness resurfacing. “The others? Haven’t seen them. Some newcomers joined us willingly. If you want them back, they’ll have to agree.”
“Then forget it!”
Garlo shrugged. “Suit yourself. Either way, you’re dead. Might as well struggle while you can.”
Yeli shot him a cold glare before turning to Xi Yi. “Same terms. Do you agree or not?”
“What do you want?” Xi Yi remained calm despite the night’s exertions.
“Return Yelai and the other men to me. And give back what you just dug up—it’s not yours.” Yeli’s voice hardened. “Also—”
“Think you’re in a position to demand so much?” Xi Yi interrupted, frowning. “What gives you the right?”
“Do I need to spell it out?” Yeli smirked, his gray eyes narrowing as he tightened his grip on Tuge’s neck. “This old man’s value speaks for itself. Someone once nearly died for him, not to mention your past grudges.”
His words were pointed, deliberately provoking Garlo. Tuge was Garlo’s weakness—something Yeli knew well from his time with Manlun. Using Tuge as leverage was a high-stakes move, and stirring old conflicts to incite infighting was a calculated ploy.
But he’d miscalculated. He underestimated the unity among their three factions now. If past grievances hadn’t been set aside, they wouldn’t be standing together. A few words wouldn’t undo that.
Even if Garlo and Saina’s earlier spat had given Yeli hope, appearances could deceive.
Even if the two men fought openly, she wouldn’t believe it was anything serious.
Mutual dislike didn’t mean division.
Yeli had bet wrong.
Garlo, for his part, knew Tuge wasn’t in real danger—Yeli wouldn’t be foolish enough to harm his only bargaining chip.
And Tuge was as much a burden to Yeli as a shield. Yeli wasn’t stupid; he’d realize that.
So Garlo stayed silent despite Yeli’s taunts.
Saina, however, smirked. “Don’t bother using Tuge to scare us. What you learned from Manlun isn’t news to us. Just as we know about your ‘life-and-death’ prophecy with Yelai, right?”
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage